Piano Forum

Hi counterpoint,

First, I did assume correctly that you were playing the LH early rather than together with the RH, not unconsciously, but by choice.  Of that I had no doubt.

Just a bit of history.  (I'm old enough now where I remember history first hand, haha!)  The anticipation of the RH by the LH was very common practice in the 19th century, as you probably know.   The theory at the time was that by playing the LH octave or chord in isolation and in anticipation of the RH, it better established the rich harmonic underpinning in the ear of the listener, and could also be used for dramatic effect. 

Once the 20th century rolled around, there were some old school artists at the height of their careers, whose teachers harkened from the 1870s and 1880s and who instilled that same practice in their students.  So those artists carried on the tradition for awhile longer.  By the 1960s, the practice was considered somewhat archaic.  Since the 1970s, it's been classified as an undesirable mannerism in conservatories, private studios, and in recital halls alike.  I must admit, I was once guilty of it myself, but with some work, abandoned the anticipatory LH in the early 80s--and for good.  Thus, my own bias. 

You've probably read several good books on performance and pedagogy, where this mannerism is addressed.  So it's no surpise to you that this practice now enjoys a bad rap, and is quickly noticed and criticized by teachers, adjudicators, sophisticated audience members, music critics, etc.   It would almost certainly become a topic if noted in a master class as well.

On the other hand, there is also nothing wrong with being a maverick, swimming upstream, or preserving something which you believe is valuable.  So anyone here would fully agree with you that retaining the anticipatory LH is totally your call, especially if it gives you pleasure in performing music the way you like to play and hear it.